The cannabis industry in Florida, valued at nearly $6 billion, faces a paradox: state-legal businesses struggle to access traditional banking services due to the ongoing conflict between state and federal cannabis laws. The Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) oversees the state's financial institutions, ensuring compliance with both state and federal laws. The Florida Administrative Code (FAC) provides the regulatory framework for these institutions, including guidelines pertinent to cannabis banking.
Banks, Credit Unions, and Fintechs that offer banking services to Cannabis, CBD, and Hemp Businesses in FL | Type of Financial Institution |
---|---|
Affinity Federal Credit Union | Credit Union |
Amalgamated Bank | Bank |
BMO Bank | Bank |
Chase (CBD Only) | Bank |
Cogent Bank | Bank |
Community Choice Credit Union | Credit Union |
Credit Union 1 | Credit Union |
First Citizens Bank | Bank |
First Federal Bank | Bank |
First National Bank of Pasco | Bank |
First Port City Bank | Bank |
Green Check | FINTECH |
Herring Bank | Bank |
Needham Bank | Bank |
Safe Harbor Financial | FINTECH |
Stearns Bank | Bank |
Valley National Bank | Bank |
For cannabis entrepreneurs, the absence of banking options affects every aspect of their business. Without access to traditional financial services, even routine transactions become fraught with logistical hurdles. Paying employees, managing operating expenses, and complying with tax obligations demand innovative—if imperfect—workarounds.